Kiri Griffiths has shown tireless commitment to education and to the growth of every student and staff member at Loganlea State High School.

Through her community engagement, in 2021 Kiri formed a school partnership with Empower Assistance Dogs and over two years – through extensive consultation – secured grant funding to purchase the school’s trained therapy dog, Biscuit. Biscuit is now the face of many student-led initiatives including a schoolwide litter prevention campaign called “Bin it for Biscuit”. The “Biscuit RePAWt” is also delivered by students at assemblies and to visiting groups.

In 2022, Kiri completed the four-year Schools Plus project, “Uplift Logan”. This was a project focussed on raising the profile of Logan youth by developing a sense of pride and agency in students to then work with the community in a positive way.

When asked for a quote that inspired her teaching, Kiri said: “Paul Kelly's "from little things, big things grow" - this quote relates to our work as educators. Sometimes, one person advocating for change is all that is needed to make a difference in the lives of young people.”

Through a partnership with local universities, Kiri has made Loganlea State High School highly sought after for preservice teachers to complete their placements. In her negotiations, Kiri has established a program where most staff are recruited from. Throughout their placements, Kiri meets with each preservice teacher from beginning to end – conducting their inductions and commenting on their final reports.

Kiri’s commitment to education in the Logan area is reflected in her willingness to challenge herself, students, and staff members to achieve results.